James "Jim" Workman

James "Jim" Walter Workman

Born August 15, 1935 in Pineville, West Virginia

Baptized at Cooper Memorial Baptist Church on Skin Fork Road near Pineville, WV

Jim went on to be with the Lord Jesus on August 18, 2025 in Ocala FL

There are 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 7 great-grand children

Jim is preceded by his parents - Walter Lee Workman and Margaret (Maggie) Ethel Workman. Walter and Maggie had 5 children, all with the Lord - Jessie Eileen Workman Garrison, Ruby Athalene Workman Lyons, Billie Lee Workman Hannon, Anna Ruth Workman Lane and the youngest James Walter Workman. Maggie passed away with TB before Jim even turned one. Walter then married Dottie May Gwaltney in 1937 - unsure about children, but there could be some. Dottie died in 1938. In 1939 Walter married Pearl Hatfield who had 6 Children - Douglas Lee Workman, Stanley Camron Workman, Sandra Kay Workman, Debbie Workman, and Mary Workman.

Walter ran into hard times and Jim was sent to live with the Brooks Family on Skin Fork, where his school teacher, Lylas Brooks lived with her parents. He was raised through high school on the Brooks farm, near where the big rock hangs over the road. He attended the one room school on Skin Fork through the eighth grade, then graduating from Pineville High in 1952. When Jim graduated, there was still no electricity on Skin Fork Road. After graduating he moved to Nashville, Tennessee with his sister Eileen and her husband Millard "Red" Garrison. In Nashville Jim met Edwina White and they married in 1956. Edwina bore him 3 children - James "Jimmy" Edward Workman & Rhonda Mullis Workman, Lesa Lee (Workman) Cumberland & Jim Cumberland - Walter Scott Workman went to Heaven in 1982, and is standing with his Daddy now. Jimmy Workman has 3 children by Cynthia Girard Phillips - James Girard Workman & April Jones, who have 3 children - James Avery Workman, Benjamin Titus Workman, and Amelia Ruth Workman. - Julia Rose Workman Conley who has one child - Olivia Vann Conley - and Melinda Lee Workman Pritchard & Brandon Pritchard, who has one child, Everett William Pritchard. Jimmy has one child with his wife Rhonda Jean Mullis Workman - Jacob Scott Workman. Lesa Cumberland has two children with Jim Cumberland - Callie Lee Cumberland Jones and Daniel James Jones, are expecting their first child who will be named Luke.- James David Cumberland and Avie, who have one child, Noel Cumberland.

Jim's second wife is Opal Lee Dodd. They lived in Ocala, FL. They have no children.

Jim Workman is known for his hard work ethic and ingenuity. Being raised on a small farm in the West Virginia mountains during the depression and WWII surely helped forge these qualities. He has done all kinds of work, but his life's work was with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He began carrying a stake bag in a survey party, then instrument man, party chief, and on to project manager for several interstate projects in the Nashville area. He moved to the maintenance department where he was in charge of maintenance of all State and Federal roads in Middle Tennessee. He retired after 30 years. He was also Master Sergeant in the Tennessee Air National Guard, where he retired after 25 years. After retirement Jim and Opal spent several years as successful real estate agents.

Jim Workman was also known for being kind, and generous, and has gone out of his way to help most everyone listed here. He had a very quick, dry sense of humor you sometimes had to think about to get it. He was a man of few words, but when he talked you probably ought to listen.

Personal Note From Jimmy Workman. I've been in a few dark times and situations. Unannounced I would look up and there's Daddy. (how did you even know I was here?) Never judgmental, just there to drag you out of the hole you just got in.

I never heard my Daddy cuss, except one time hurt his hand and he said Shite, from his Scottish upbringing I guess.
My Daddy never talked about anyone else, at least not in front of me. So if you've been thinking he was talking about you, he wasn't, he was probably telling us to stop. Once we were all standing around roasting another family member, and he stepped in and said "Ya'll need to stop talking like this in front of these kids. Let them form their own opinions".
Things I hope I take from my Daddy - Work smart not hard, but sometimes you just gotta work hard - Think long before you speak - Don't talk about people -Be kind - Help people out that need help, especially family - Be that guy your close family and friends can count on, no matter what. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying.

Funeral services will be conducted On Monday, August 25, 2025, at 12:00 Noon at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road. Interment with Military Honors at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. and on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 615-331-1952.